Instrument panel switch



March 27, 1951 J, R, FERGUSON 2,546,943

INSTRUMENT PANEL SWITCH Filed OCT.. 4, 194'? INVENTOR. LIC/me@ Ferguson ATTOENE YI Patented Mar. 27, 1951 INSTRUMENT PANEL SWITCH James Robert Ferguson, Huntington Woods,

Mich., assigner :to Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation kof rMichigan .Application Qctober 4, 1947,1Seria1 rNo. 777,929

vThis invention relates ,to a switch actuating mechanism, and `more particularly toga plurality of' separate switches mounted as a subassembly, and adapted to be actuated by a plurality of separately operable control members associated therewith. In the automotive industry 4a number of switches are employed to control various elements of the car such for example as `the headlights, heater, defroster, transmission, fog lights, ventilators, etc. It has been customary to actuatethese switches by controjl members secured to .a `movable portion of the switch, and positioned `in .a readily accessible place on an jinstrument panel so that the driver .can readily 'manipulate them.. it. been. difcult to pesition the switches in such a manner that the control members een be placed on the instrument panel iny the .most convenient locations. and the switches are quite inaccessible when repair or replacement is necessary.

An object of this invention is to provide separate switch and switch actuating sub-assemblies that can be bench assembled and readily positioned in a lmotor vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch and 4switch actuating sub-assembly. having a plurality of switches mounted on 4a bracket, for assembly into ya vehicle body.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a switch actuating mechanism having a plurality of selectively operable push buttons to actuate a series of switches carried by a bracket adapted to be mounted as a subassembly in an article of manufacture.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a series of aligned push buttons mounted en a panel to actuate a series of correspondingly placed switches of the push andA return type, and wherein adjustable switch actuating motion transmitting means are interposed between the panel and the push buttons to permit aligning the push buttons with the panel.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a switch assembly having a bracket adapted ,to receive a plurality of plunger type switches of the push and return type and a push button type switch actuating mechanism secured to the bracket, and having an adiusting mechanism between the push buttons and the switcheswhereby the push buttons may be separately adjusted to align them with each other.

Other objects of this invention will yappear in the following description and appended claims reference being had to the accompanying draw- 4 Claims. (Cl. 17,5298l ings -forming a -pa-rt ci'A this specification wherein like reference characters designate correspond= ing parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view partly in -elevatiom of a switch and actuating assembly embodying this invention, and taken substantially on the line l-I of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the' arrows.

Fig; 2 is a front view of the assembly. v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, vlooking in the direction of the arrows.

Fie- 4 is a fragmentary front' View of'theswitch carrying bracket.

Fg- '5 is en exploded `view illustratingthe push button adjusting mechanism.

It is to be understood that the .inventionis not limited in its application to the4 details of construction and Aarrangement of parts illus--v trated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed vherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. g

Referring now more particularly to the draw,.-l ings it will be noted that a channel shapedI bracket l0 having upper and lower horizontally extending flanges I2 and lil is provided to receive a plurality of spaced switches I6. The switches l5 may be of any suitable type, but .are illustrated as being of the push and return type havingr plungers l adapted to actuate the switch mechanism. For example when the plunger I8 is .actuated once, the switch is moved to the "on position, and when .the plunger is actuated again the switch is moved to the off position. Where a switch having more positions is `rev-- quired to control a device having several ranges or speeds of operation, such as a heater or: a defroster, the plunger I8 may besuccessively ac,- tuated to turn the switch on, and progress through the various sneed or range positions and then move the switch mechanism to the 01T position.

The switches I5 are illustrated as being rectangular in shape, and having threaded pro jections 2!! surrounding the plungers l and adapted to project through spaced apertures 22 in the bracket lll. The lower ange ld. of the bracket is cut away as illustrated at 24 to ref'v oeive the ends of the switches is, and to provide ,spaced proiecting flanges on opposite sides of .the @switches to prevent the switches fromk cock ing or moving angularly in the apertures 22 in amebic 1 i 3 the bracket. Spacers 26 surrounding the threaded projections 28 are interposed between the switches I6 and the bracket I8 and nuts 28 threaded on the projections 28 are provided to clamp the switches IS to the bracket I0.

The switches IE are provided with terminal posts 30 and 32 adapted to receive electrical leads 34 and 36.

It will of course be apparent that if desired the switches I6 may be valves to control the flow of fluid under pressure to actuate any desired mechanism, such for example to raise and lower the top of a convertible automobile, to actuate Windows, or control the position of a movable seat.

A panel 38 having a plurality of selectively operable switch controlling vmembers such as push buttons 48 having a symbol il thereon indicating the element controlled by its associated switch may be secured to the bracket Ie in any suitable manner as by screws 42. The screws may project through apertures it in the bracket I8 and extend into threaded bosses t5 secured to or integral with a vertical wall t8 of the panel 38. The wall 38 is spaced from the front face 59` of the panel 38, and is connected thereto through an upper horizontally extending wall 52.' The wall 48 carries a lower horizontally eX- tending wall 54 .spaced from the wall 52 to define a channel 55 therebetween to receive the push buttons 4I).

' The lower wall 54 is provided with spaced rectangular shaped guides 58 extending from its front face 60 to the vertical wall 48. The push buttons 48 are formed with rectangular shaped body sections adapted to project into the channely58.for movement therein toward and away from the vertical wall e8. The bottom walls of. the push buttons are out away to provide spaced longitudinally extending grooves 52 and til on their opposite sides as illustrated in Fig. 2 to receive the guides 58 to induce substantially straight line movement of the push buttons thereby preventing cocking or binding. Leaf springs 65 carried by the guides 58 are provided to ride in the grooves 32 and 64 of the push buttons to urge them upwardly into engagement with the upper wall 52 to prevent the push buttons 48' from rattling in the channel 5S. A felt pad 61 positioned onY one side of each push button is provided to maintain the push buttons in spaced relation to prevent rattling resultin T from transverse movement of the push buttons.

Motion transmitting means carried by the push buttons 48 are provided to actuate the plungers I8, and to vary the adjusted position ofthe rounded front ends 66 of the push buttons with reference to the front face 58 of the panel 38. to permit aligning the push buttons with each other]I l' One illustrative example of such motion transmitting means includes a plurality of studs S8 projecting through apertures Til in the wall 68, carried bythe panel 38,*and having heads 'I2 interposed between the wall t3 and the ends of the plungers I8. The studs are threaded into the push buttons It, springs fifi surrounding the studs being interposed between the wall t8 and the push buttons il@ as illustrated to yieldingly urge the push buttons from a switch actuating position towards a switch return or released position.' A washer 'i6 is interposed between each of the springs 'I4 and its associated push button 48, and preferably has a non-circular aperture. 'I8 ton receive a flattened side of the stud 6,8 to.

prevent the stud from turning relative to the washer. shaped notch 88 to engage in grooves 82 formed in a threaded boss 84 of each of the push buttons d8 to prevent the stud 68 from turning in its associated push button until sumcient force is exerted thereon to compress the spring I4 sufciently to permit the V-shaped notch 88 formed in the washer 'I6 to disengage one aligned pair of grooves 82 in the boss 84 of the push button. The assembly is thus securely maintained in adjusted position.

Each of the switches I8 may be actuated by pushing its associated push button 4e inwardly to the switch actuating position whereupon the head 'I2 of the stud B3 transmits movement of the push button to move the plunger I8 to actuate the switch. The spring 'I4 urges the push button to the switch return position when the push button is released.

To align the push buttons 48 with reference to the front face 58 of the panel 38 the studs 68 are rotated to vary the distance between their associated push buttons and the vertical wall 48, the washers 'I5 locking the push buttons in any adjusted position. It will be noted that the heads T2 of thestuds 88 are urged into contact with the wall 48 by the springs 'I4 in the switch ref turned position, a washer 8B of sound absorbing material such as felt or cork being interposed between the head i2 of each of the studs 68 and the wall 48 to prevent noise as the plungerJli)` is moved to the switch return position byits as-l sociated spring 68. Adjustment of the spacing of the push buttons therefore, does not disturb the operative relation between the heads 'I2 .of the studs 63 and the plungers I8 of the switches I6 It will be apparent that asub-assembly consisting of the switches I6 mounted on the bracket IQ, and the panel 88 having the pushv buttons M1 mounted therein may be secured together and adjusted to properly align the front ends 5 ofthe push buttons with reference to the front face 58 of the panel before being assembled into the vehicle. Also before assembly into the vehicle the appropriate leads 34 and 35 from the wiring harness are preferably connected to the respective terminal posts 3,8 and 32 of switches iS. The com-j plete sub-assembly thus formed is positioned in place, and is secured to the vehicle body by suitable fastening means (not shown) securing the, bracket I8' and panel 38 to the body. If desired the bracket I8 having the switches I5 mounted. thereon may be assembled in the vehicle as one sub-assembly, and the panel 38 having the push' buttons 48 mounted thereon may be assembled in the vehicle as a separate sub-assembly. ,Tor

repair o r replace any of the switchesfelt'the paneli 38 having the push buttons et!` may be vrernlcwvelcll as 9, unit to permit free access to the switeh assembly. It will also be apparent that the individual switches, I 8 may be readily removed from:

the bracket I8 by removing their respectivenuts' 28 to release the switch from the bracket".V ,The switch can be repaired or replaced by a new one and reassembled with reference to the bracket I0, without removing the bracketor. the panel 38, from the vehicle.

It is of course apparent that the bracket I0 or the push buttons for actuating them be positioned in a straight line.

It will be understoodthat various fornis ofi The washer 'I6 is formed with a V' the invention other than those described above may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a switch actuating mechanism the combination with a plurality of separate switches of the push and return type having movable plungers, a bracket supporting said switches with their plungers in parallel relation, of a panel spaced from the bracket and having a channel shaped portion spaced from and extending parallel to said bracket, a plurality of separate push buttons slidably mounted in the channel and movable between switch actuating and switch return positions, guide means between the push buttons and the channel, adjustable actuating means carried by the push buttons and extending through the channel in alignment with the switch plungers, and yielding means between the push buttons and the channel to urge the push buttons to the switch return position.

2. In a switch actuating mechanism the cornbination with a plurality of separate switches of the push and return type having movable plungers, a bracket supporting said switches with their plungers in parallel relation, of a panel spaced from and carried by the bracket and having a channel shaped portion, a plurality of separate push buttons slidably mounted in the channel and movable between switch actuating and switch return positions, guide means between the push buttons and the channel, adjustable actuating means carried by the push buttons and extending through the channel in alignment with the switch plungers, and yielding ymeans between the push buttons and the channel to urge the push buttons to the released position.

3. In a switch actuating mechanism the combination with a panel having a vertical wall spaced from the face of the panel of a plurality of separate push buttons slidably mounted relative to the panel and movable between switch actuating and switch return positions, each push button having a threaded boss including radially extended grooves, motion transmitting means including a threaded stud extending through said Vertical wall, yielding means between the push buttons and said Vertical wall to urge the push buttons to the switch return position, and locking means between the stud and push button including a washer constrained to rotate with the stud and having axially extending projections adapted to project into the radial grooves formed in the boss of its associated push button to restrain the stud from rotating relative to the push button until subjected tc a force suicient to compress the yielding means between the push button and the vertical wall of the channel.

4. In a switch actuating mechanism the combination with a plurality of separate switches of the push and return type having movable plungers, a bracket supporting said switches with their plungers in parallel relation, or" a panel spaced from and carried by the bracket and including a channel shaped portion having upper and lower horizontal walls and a vertical wall, a plurality of separate push buttons slidably mounted in the channel and movable between switch actuating and switch return positions, each push button having a threaded boss including radially extended grooves, guide means between the push buttons and the lower wall of the channel, yielding means between the guide means and the push buttons to urge the push buttons into engagement with the upper wall, motion transmitting means including a threaded stud extending through the vertical wall of the channel in alignment with the switch plungers, yielding means between the push buttons and the Vertical wall of the channel to urge the push buttons to the switch return position, and locking means between the stud and push button including a washer constrained to rotate with the stud and having axially extending projections adapted to extend into the radial grooves formed in the boss of its associated push button to restrain the stud from rotating relative to the push button until subjected to a force sufficient to compress the yielding means between the push button and the Vertical wall of the channel.

JAMES ROBERT FERGUSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,445,181 Sizaire Feb. 13, 1923 1,694,006 Fitzsimmons Dec. 4, 1928 1,787,684 Jacobi Jan. 6, 1931 1,835,456 Bernard Dec. 8, 1931 1,884,146 Y Noviel Oct. 25, 1932 2,114,359 Selje Apr. 19, 1938 2,287,797 Hanley June 30, 1942 2,344,441 Lorenz Mar. 14, 1944 

